Pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Pharmaceutical consumption was 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom, 2005–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom is 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.2% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom peaked at 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024 and was at its lowest, 149.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2006.
That places United Kingdom 12th out of 21 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 158.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 149.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 175.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 5 |
| 2010s | 223.68 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 187.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 248.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 278.94 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 251.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 9 Spain 320.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 10 Sweden 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 11 Portugal 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 13 Italy 297.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 14 Germany 252.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 15 Chile 250.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,134 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Population, male, annual growth rate 0.3239 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, male, per capita 0.4925 units per person (2025)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by country 0 (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 439,737 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in United Kingdom was 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 149.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2006.
- How does United Kingdom rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- United Kingdom ranks 12th out of 21 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Pharmaceutical consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total pharmaceutical consumption according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification/Defined Daily Dose (DDD) system, created by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology. The unit of measurement is Defined Daily Dose (DDD), defined as the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used on its main indication in adults. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system divides drugs into different groups according to the organ system on which they act and/or therapeutical, pharmacological and chemical characteristics. The main principles for the classification of medicinal substances according to the ATC is presented in the publication “Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment”, WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, Oslo. The publication “ATC Index with DDDs” lists all assigned ATC codes and DDD values. Both these publications are updated annually. The ATC codes are based on the 2026 version of the ATC Index. All alterations implemented from January 2026 are available on the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology website at https://www.whocc.no/lists_of__temporary_atc_ddds_and_alterations/. Data should reflect, where possible, the total consumption for each pharmaceutical drug category, i.e. including consumption in hospitals. Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.